Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street, Malden, Massachusetts 02148-4096
Telephone: (781) 338-3700
TTY: N.E.T. Relay 1-800-439-2370
May 31, 2011
June Doe, Superintendent
Dedham Public School District
100 Whiting Avenue
Dedham, MA 02027
Re: Mid-cycle Report
Dear Superintendent Doe:
Enclosed is the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Mid-cycle Report
based on the onsite visit conducted in your district in March 2011. During the Mid-cycle
Review the Department monitored selected special education criteria to determine your
district’s compliance with special education laws and regulations. The review consisted
of information gathered from one or more of the following activities: interviews, review
of student records, examination of documentation, and classroom observation(s).
The Department determined that one or more of the criteria monitored in your district
was “Partially Implemented” or “Not Implemented.” In all instances where
noncompliance was found, the Department has prescribed corrective action for the
district. This corrective action must be implemented as soon as possible, but in no case
later than a year from the date of this report. You will find these requirements for
corrective action included in the enclosed report, along with requirements for submitting
progress reports using the enclosed form.
Please provide the Department with your written assurance that all of the required
corrective action will be implemented by your district within the timelines specified in
the report. You must submit your statement of assurance to Darlene Lynch, Director,
Program Quality Assurance Services, by June 16, 2011.
1
Your staff's cooperation throughout this Mid-cycle Review is appreciated. If you have
questions about this letter or the enclosed report, please do not hesitate to contact Susan
D. Nichols at 781-338-3722.
Sincerely,
Susan D. Nichols, Mid-cycle Review Chairperson
Program Quality Assurance Services
Darlene A. Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
cc:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D., Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education
Vani Rastogi-Kelly, Supervisor, Program Quality Assurance Services
Kevin Coughlin, School Committee Chairperson
Kathy Gaudreau, Local Program Review Coordinator
Encs: Mid-cycle Report
Mid-cycle Progress Report Form
2
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REPORT
Dedham Public School District
Date of the Mid-cycle Review Onsite: March 23, 2011
Date of this Report: May 31, 2011
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS REPORT IS IN TWO SECTIONS.
Required Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 7
Transfer of
parental
rights at age
of majority
and student
participation
and consent
at the age of
majority

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Student Records
A review of the student records,
documentation and interviews
indicated that the district sends
notice to students and their
parents one year prior to the
student reaching 18 years of age
that explains the transfer of
parental rights at age 18.
Document
Review
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and
Timelines for
Implementation
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 1 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 52A
Registration
of
educational
interpreters

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination about
Criterion
Document
Review
The district does not have any
students enrolled at this time who
require the services of an
educational interpreter for the
deaf and hard of hearing. The
district has procedures in place
that indicate that an employee
acting in this capacity would be
registered with the Massachusetts
Commission for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing, as required.
Interviews
If Partially Implemented or
Not Implemented:
(a) Required
Corrective Action
and
Timelines for
Implementation
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 2 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due Date(s)
and Required
Elements
Additional Special Education Criteria Monitored in this Mid-cycle Review
Current special education criteria available by scrolling down to the special education instrument at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pqa/review/cpr/default.html
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 2
Required and
optional
assessments

SE 4
Reports of
assessment
results

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Student Records
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that the district
is completing the
educational history and
teacher assessments
(Educational Assessment
Part A and B). The
district is using a variety
of assessment tools and
students are being
assessed in all areas
related to the suspected
disability.
Interviews
Student Records
Interviews
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
A review of student
records and interviews
indicated that all reports
of assessment results
summarized the
procedures employed,
the results and diagnostic
impressions, and defined
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 3 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
in detail and in
educationally relevant
and common terms, the
student’s needs, offering
explicit means of
meeting those needs.
SE 6
Determination
of transition
services

SE 8
IEP Team
composition and
attendance

Student Records
Interviews
Student Records
Interviews
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that the district
is addressing transition
planning needs at IEP
Team meetings when the
student is 14 years of age
and the Transition
Planning Form is
reviewed annually by the
Team.
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that the IEP
Teams have
representatives at the
meetings with the
authority to commit the
district’s resources.
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 4 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
SE 9A
Elements of the
eligibility
determination;
general
education
accommodations and
services for
ineligible
students
SE 12
Frequency of reevaluation
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)

Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Document
Review
A review of the
documentation and
interviews indicated that
if a Team determines that
a student is not eligible
for special education but
may be eligible for
accommodations for
disabilities under Section
504, the student is
referred for consideration
for eligibility under that
general education
program.
Interviews
PI
Student Records
A review of the student
records indicated that reevaluations are not
always conducted every
three years.
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
Develop an internal
oversight and tracking
system to ensure that reevaluations are conducted
every three years.
Develop a report of the
results of a comprehensive
internal review of student
records at all levels, for reevaluations conducted
subsequent to the
implementation of the
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 5 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
By September 9,
2011, provide a
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking system
and identify the
person(s)
responsible for the
oversight, including
the date of the
system’s
implementation.
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
oversight and tracking
system, for evidence of
compliance with
conducting re-evaluations
every three years.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring that the
district must maintain
the following
documentation and make
it available to the
Department upon
request:
a) List of the student
names and grade levels
for the records reviewed;
b) Date of the review;
c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review,
their role(s), and
signature(s).
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 6 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
By December 16,
2011, submit a
report of the
results of an
internal review of
records from all
levels where a reevaluation was
conducted after the
implementation of
the tracking
system. Include
the following
information:
 Number of
records
reviewed at
each level;
 Number of
records in which
a re-evaluation
was conducted
every three
years;
 Results of the
root cause
analysis for any
noncompliance
found; and
 Specific actions
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
taken by the
district to
remedy any
non-compliance.
SE 14
Review and
revision of IEPs
PI
Student Records
Interviews
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that the annual
review of the IEP does
not always take place on
or before the anniversary
date of the IEP.
Develop an internal
oversight and tracking
system to ensure that IEP
Team meetings are held on
or before the anniversary
date of the IEP.
Develop a report of the
results of a comprehensive
internal review of student
records at all levels, for
annual reviews that have
taken place since
implementation of the
oversight and tracking
system, for evidence of
compliance with the annual
review being held on or
before the anniversary date
of the IEP.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring that the
district must maintain
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 7 of 15
By September 9,
2011, provide a
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking system
and identify the
person(s)
responsible for the
oversight, including
the date of the
system’s
implementation.
By December 16,
2011, submit a
report of the
results of an
internal review of
student records
from all levels for
annual reviews
conducted since
the
implementation of
the tracking
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
the following
documentation and make
it available to the
Department upon
request:
a) List of the student
names and grade levels
for the records reviewed;
b) Date of the review;
c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review,
their role(s), and
signature(s).
SE 17
Initiation of

Student Records
A review of the student
records and interviews
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 8 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
system. Include
the following
information:
 Number of
records
reviewed at
each level;
 Number of
records in which
an annual
review Team
meeting was
held on or
before the
anniversary date
of the IEP;
 Results of the
root cause
analysis for any
noncompliance
found; and
 Specific actions
taken by the
district to
remedy any
noncompliance.
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

services at age
three and Early
Intervention
transition
procedures
SE 22
IEP
implementation
and availability

SE 24
Notice to parent
regarding

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Interviews
indicated that the district
is initiating assessments,
Team meetings and
placement procedures in
a timely manner to
ensure the development
and implementation of
an IEP for eligible
children by the date of
the student’s third
birthday.
Student Records
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that teachers
are being informed of
their specific
responsibilities related to
the implementation of
the student’s IEP.
Additionally, students
are receiving counseling
services when indicated
on the IEP.
Interviews
Student Records
Interviews
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that the district
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 9 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
proposal or
refusal to
initiate or
change the
identification,
evaluation, or
educational
placement of the
child or the
provision of
FAPE
SE 25
Parental consent
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
is completing the
narrative description of
the school district
proposals (N1 forms) in
detail and responding to
all questions on page 2
of the N1 form.
PI
Student Records
A review of the student
records indicated that
there were instances
when the services
proposed on a student’s
IEP were provided prior
to receipt of the parent’s
written consent to such
services.
Develop district-wide
procedures for notifying
staff when a parent has
provided written consent to
the services on the
proposed IEP so that staff
may provide such services.
Provide training to staff on
these procedures.
Develop an internal
oversight and tracking
system to ensure that
written parental consent is
obtained to the services
proposed on a student’s
IEP before providing such
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 10 of 15
By September 9,
2011, submit a
copy of the
district-wide
procedures for
notifying staff
when a parent has
provided written
consent to the
services on the
proposed IEP.
Submit evidence
of staff training,
including an
agenda and signed
attendance sheet
indicating the role
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
services.
Develop a report of the
results of a comprehensive
internal review of student
records at all levels, for
Team meetings held
subsequent to
implementation of the
corrective actions, for
evidence of compliance
with ensuring that written
parental consent is
obtained prior to providing
the services on the
proposed IEP.
*Please note when
conducting internal
monitoring that the
district must maintain
the following
documentation and make
it available to the
Department upon
request:
a) List of the student
names and grade levels
for the records reviewed;
b) Date of the review;
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 11 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
of staff. Also,
submit the
description of the
internal oversight
and tracking
system and
identify the
person(s)
responsible for the
oversight,
including the date
of the system’s
implementation.
By December 16,
2011, submit a
report of the
results of an
internal review of
student records
from all levels in
which a Team
meeting was held
since
implementation of
the corrective
actions. Include
the following:
 Number of
records
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
c) Name of person(s) who
conducted the review,
their role(s), and
signature(s).
SE 29
Communications are in
English and
primary
language of

Student Records
Interviews
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that
communications are
provided in English and
the primary language of
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 12 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
reviewed at
each level;
 Number of
records in which
the parent
provided written
consent to the
services on the
proposed IEP
before the
district provided
such services;
 Results of the
root cause
analysis for any
noncompliance
found; and
 Specific actions
taken by the
district to
remedy any
noncompliance.
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
home
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
the home, if such
primary language is
other than English.
SE 36
IEP
implementation,
accountability
and financial
responsibility

SE 42
Programs for
young children
three and
four years of
age

SE 43
Behavioral
interventions

Student Records
Interviews
Student records and
interviews indicated that
accommodations listed
on the IEPs of middle
and high school students
are being provided in the
general education
classrooms.
See SE 17.
Student Records
Interviews
A review of the student
records and interviews
indicated that the district
is providing behavioral
supports throughout the
district’s programs for
students.
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 13 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

SE 51
Appropriate
special
education
teacher
licensure

SE 55
Special
education
facilities and
classrooms

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
Document
Review
The district submitted
the licensure of all of the
special education
teachers working in the
Alternative High School
Program. All teachers
are appropriately
licensed.
Interviews
Observations
Interviews
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
The Avery Elementary
School is now providing
speech and reading
services in a classroom
that is confidential and
maximizes the inclusion
of the students into the
life of the school.
The Oakdale Elementary
School special education
resource room has been
re-located and is no
longer in the basement,
separated from all other
classrooms in the
building. The
classroom’s location
now maximizes the
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 14 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
Criterion
Criterion
Implemented

Criterion
Partially
Implemented
(PI) or
Not
Implemented
(NI)
Method(s) of
Investigation
Basis of Determination
about Criterion
If Partially Implemented
or Not Implemented:
(a) Required Corrective
Action and Timelines for
Implementation
inclusion of the students
into the life of the
school.
The counseling wing of
the high school has been
restructured to allow for
greater confidentiality.
Dedham Public School District Coordinated Program Review Mid-cycle Report
May 31, 2011
Page 15 of 15
(b) Progress
Report Due
Date(s) and
Required
Elements
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
MID-CYCLE REVIEW
School District: Dedham Public School District
M I D – CY C L E P R O G R E S S R E P O R T
Date Prepared: ____________________________________
Prepared by: __________________________________________________________________
(name and title)
Criterion: _______________________
Topic: ________________________________________________________________________
For each criterion for which you prepare a progress report, please



make a copy of this cover page,
fill in the information requested above, and
attach a complete description of the corrective action taken and any accompanying documentation.
(Description of corrective action for each criterion and any accompanying documentation should include all of the
“Progress Report Required Elements” for that criterion in the Mid-cycle Report.)
Send the whole set of completed progress reports to:
Darlene Lynch, Director
Program Quality Assurance Services
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906